Passchier S., Uścinowicz S., Laban C.
Sediment supply and transport directions in the Gulf of Gdańsk as observed from SEM analysis of quartz grain surface textures
publisher:
ISBN:
published in: 1997
language: en

Summary: Quartz grains were examined under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to determine the geographic distribution of sediments from different sources in the western part of the Gulf of Gdańsk. Main source areas for sediment supply in the Gulf of Gdańsk are coastal cliffs bordering the western part of the Gulf, and the Vistula river entering the Gulf at the southern coastal border. Twelve samples of sediments from the Gulf of Gdańsk sea floor, five samples of Tertiary and Pleistocene deposits from eroded cliffs and three samples of sands from the Vistula river mouth were analyzed. All samples were sieved over 63 microns and 35 quartz grains of each sample were selected and analyzed usinga checklist of 40 grain parameters, including grain surface textures and grain shape. Frequencies of observed checklist variables were statistically analyzed and used to determine the transport history of the grains in each sample. The cliff samples and the river samples served as two end members in the analysis. The core samples were separated into different textural groups related to one of the two main source areas. The distribution of Vistula fluvial material and material eroded from cliffs in the western part of the Gulf of Gdańsk was determined. Results show that transport of sandy fraction material is not very strong within the gulf. Despite long shore currents sedimentation near the Vistula river mouth is dominated by the input of fluvial material. In the westernmost part of the gulf material eroded from the cliffs with admixtures of material of other origin predominates. It is evident that transport of sediments by waves and currents is responsible for the admixture of grains exhibiting subaqueous surface features. Sediments from several sources may have been redistributed during storms by waves and currents and on ice floes during heavy winters, however a strong local component is present.

Uścinowicz Sz.
Litofacje osadów dna południowej części Basenu Bornholmskiego
publisher: Państwowy Instytut Geologiczny - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
ISBN:
published in: 2000
language: pl

Summary: This work presentsthe lithofacial analysys of the recent Baltic Sea sediments from areaof the southern part of Bornholm Basin. On the base of grain size distribution the four lithofacies are distinguished:A (gravels, sandy gravels, gravelly sands and vary, coarse and medium grained sands), B (fine sands), C (silty sands), D (sandy silts, silts, clayey silts and silty clays). Each lithofacies is characterized by typical features of grain size distribution,heavy minerals contents, mineral-petrographic composition and roundnes of quartz grains. The horizontal and vertical sequences are presented. Cynamic and origin of sedimentsis interpreter on the base of lithofacies features. There i salso presented an attempt of corelation of sedimentary processes with the hydrodynamical conditions and model of lithosoms development.

Uścinowicz Sz.
Relative sea level changes, glacio-isostatic rebound and shoreline displacement in the Southern Baltic
publisher: Państwowy Instytut Geologiczny - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
ISBN:
published in: 2003
language: en

Summary: The relative sea level curve was developed for the southern Baltic area, based on a set of 314 radiocarbon datings of different terrestrial and marine sediments, collected at 163 sites located in the Polish part of the Southern Baltic and in the adjacent coastal land area. When developing the curve, relicts of various formations related to the shoreline evolution as well as extents of erosional surfaces, determined from seismoacoustic profiles, were taken into account. During Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene, i.e. between 13.0 and 8.5 ka BP, the southern Baltic sea level rose and fell three times, the amplitude of changes extending over 25-27 m. In some extreme cases, the sea level was falling at a rate of up to about 100-300 mm/a, the rate of rise accelerating to about 35-45 mm/a. In the Late Boreal, c. 8.5 ka BP, the Baltic - its water level by about 28 m lower than the present one - became permanently connected with the ocean. Until the onset of the Atlantic, the sea level had risen to about 21 m below the present sea level (b.s.l.). During 8.0-7.0 ka BP, the sea level was rising, at a rate of about 11 mm/a, to reach 10 m b.s.l. Subsequently during the Atlantic, until its end, the sea level rose to 2.5 m b.s.l., the rate of rise slowing down to about 2.5 mm/a. During the first millenium of the Subboreal, the sea level rose to about 1.3-1.1 m b.s.l., to become - on termination of the Subboreal - about 0.6-0.7 m lower than present. During the Subatlantic, the sea level changes were slight only. The glacio-isostatic rebound began c. 17.5 ka BP, to terminate c. 9.2-9.0 ka BP. The total uplift during that time amounted to about 120 m. The maximum uplift rate of about 45 mm/a occurred c. 12.4-12.2 ka BP. Within the period of c. 9.0 to c. 7.0 ka BP, the southern Baltic experienced forebulge migration, a subsequent subsidence ensuing from c. 7.0 to c. 4.0 ka BP. As from c. 4.0 ka BP, the Earth crust in the area regained its equilibrium. In Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene, the southern Baltic shoreline displaced rapidly and substantially several times, the displacement rate ranging from several tens of metres to a few kilometres per year. The displacement processes involved the seafloor surfaces located at present at 25 to 55 m b.s.l., the shoreline migrating over distances of 30-60 km away from the present coastline. In Middle Holocene, the shoreline moved southwards over a distance ranging from about 60 km in the Pomeranian Bay to about 5 km in the Gulf of Gdańsk. The shoreline location approached the present one at the final phase of the Atlantic. Late Holocene was the period when coast levelling processes were prevailing, the shoreline becoming gradually closer and closer to its present setting.

Uścinowicz S.
Geochemia osadów powierzchniowych Morza Bałtyckiego
publisher: Państwowy Instytut Geologiczny - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
ISBN: 9788375388138
published in: 2011
language: pl

Summary:

Uścinowicz Sz.
Geochemistry of Baltic sea surface sediments
publisher: Państwowy Instytut Geologiczny - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
ISBN: 9788375388145
published in: 2011
language: en

Summary: The book „Geochemoistry of Baltic Sea Surface sediments” responds to a social demand and is addressed both to those specialists dealing with the Baltic Sea issue and to a wide circle of readers interested in geosciences. It discusses the chemical composition of the sediments and the changes that took place during the last century. It also deals with a versatile analysis of the processes and interrelations between the individual elements of the marine environment: waters, sediments and organisms living at the sea bottom. The geochemistry of the sea sediments is an exceptional domain that links many branches of science, including sedimentology, mineralogy, chemistry, biology and oceanography. Therefore, thanks to the co-operation between specialists from the disciplines of geology, oceanography and geochemistry, it was possible to synthesise the Polish achivements concerning the studies on the sediments in the Baltic Sea, and to present them against a wider background of the work of scholars from other Baltic countries. The book includes numerous illustrations to help the reader understand the complex phenomena occurring in the marine environment.